Page 56 of Relentless
Both Ethan and Cody looked. Sure enough, smoke filtered through the vents at the back. Some even poured from under the chassis.
“Fuck,” Cody grumbled.
“I’ve already called the driver,” Tia said from her position next to their driver. Mazi and Cass sat at the banquette, although both craned their heads to look at the bus in front of them.
Ethan and Kara’s bus.
“What’s the plan?” Mazi asked.
“Anne and Bill are going to move in front and escort the driver to the side of the road. We’ll pull up the rear,” Tia said. Then, turning to look at them over her shoulder, she added, “I want you three to stay on the bus. I’ll check it out with Bill and Anne. Mazi, Cass, you’re on point.”
The two security operatives nodded, but Ethan’s gaze snagged on Kara.
“Surely buses break down on occasion?” she asked, her brow furrowed even more.
“They do,” Tia confirmed. “But with everything going on, not just with you but with Bantry, do you want to take a chance?”
Kara bit her lip, then shook her head. “When you put it like that, no, I don’t.”
Ethan held out a hand, and she made her way from the chair in front of the gaming screen to his side. Cody had spun his seat around and was intently watching the bus in front of them.
The vehicle slowed down as the smoke grew thicker and thicker. And darker and darker. What had started as a few pale gray puffs had morphed into a steady stream of dark, nearly black, smoke that trailed the moving bus.
Finally, the three vehicles—the SUV with Anne and Bill, his and Kara’s bus, then Cody’s—pulled onto the shoulder.
“Keep a healthy distance,” Tia said to their driver, nodding to the bus in front of them. Following her orders, he brought them to halt about twenty feet behind the smoking coach. Tia rose but didn’t exit. Instead, she asked for a status report.
Ethan wished he had his own earpiece to hear Bill or Anne’s reply, but as he didn’t, he focused on doing his best to remain calm and not jump to conclusions. As far as they knew, Kara’s location was still under the radar. Yes, a few people knew where she was. But most of them, with one glaring exception in Cody’s PA, weren’t the sort to talk.
“Right, let’s get Louis out of the bus,” Tia said into her earpiece. “And grab your fire extinguishers,” she added. She nodded to Mazi as she spoke, and he reached under the sink and pulled one out.
“You want me to go?” Mazi asked before handing it over.
Tia shook her head. “I’ll do it. You two stay here,” she repeated. Mazi didn’t look so certain, but both he and Cass nodded. “You might want to call road services as well,” Tia continued. “Whatever is happening with that engine isn’t good. Regardless of the cause, we’re not going to be driving it anywhere else today.”
Mazi pulled out his phone, and Cass moved up to guard the main door. Ethan hated not being a part of the action. He had his weapon, and he was more than capable of using a fire extinguisher. But this team had operated together before, and he didn’t want to get in the way. Not unless asked or needed.
“Louis is safely out,” Tia reported, reaching for the handle of the passenger door. “Anne and he are going to investigate. I’ll meet them at the back of the bus, and we’ll see if we can get the fire out before it spreads.”
Tia swung her legs out of the bus as a deep rumble caught Ethan’s attention. Lifting his eyes to the coach in front of them, his stomach pitched. He knew that sound. He knew what was coming next. And it wasn’t going to be pretty.
Yelling for Tia to get back, he shifted his body and threw himself over Kara, pressing her down into the couch. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Mazi do the same to Cody.
And then the earth shook, and the bus exploded in front of them.
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
“Tia!”Cody’s panicked voice filled the cabin.
Kara cranked her head to check on Cody and found him fighting against Mazi to reach Tia. She tried to rise, but Ethan’s body lay on top of hers, his hands skimming over her looking for injuries.
“I’m fine, Ethan,” she said. His investigation didn’t stop. “Ethan!” She reached up and slid her hands into his hair, forcing him to look at her. “I’m fine. Everyone on the bus is fine. We need to check the others.”
He blinked at her, then pushed himself off. His gaze swept the area, assessing the situation. “Stay here,” he barked once he was satisfied.
“Let me the fuck go,” Cody yelled.
“I’m the only doctor here. I’m not staying anywhere,” she barked right back at Ethan. Then, turning to Mazi, who was doing a hell of a job containing Cody, she took control. “Cody!” she shouted, crossing the bus and getting up in his face.
